Coin detecting apparatus



Get. 3, 1939. A. E. GEBERT ET A.

` COIN DETECTING APPARATUS 2me/Z075 Filed July 1, 1958 Patented Oct. 3, 1939 PATENT OFFICE n 27,174,696 com nE'rEc'rING APPARATUS Albert E. Geben, Wilmette, ana Floyd o. Black, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Advance Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois y Application July 1, 1938, Serial N0. 216,918-

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in coin detecting or selecting mechanism, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in use for vending or coin actuated mechanisms which require the deposit of a coin or check to render the same operative.

In devices of this character it is customary to provide a chute or runway along which the coin or check travels before it is deposited or delivered into the operating mechanism to render the latter active, and t0 also provide mechanism arranged adjacent the path of travel of the coin or check along such runway to separate the improper checks, coins or tokens from the proper ones, so that the latter will be delivered into the machine while the improper ones will be rejected or prevented from entering the operative mechanism of the machine, or returned to the operator.

It is'one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved detectingmechanism in which the coins to be separated will roll along on their edge past a magnet or between two magnets, or through a magnetic eld, in a manner that the magnet can exert its influence upon the coins.

It has been found that the speed of travel of the coins or checks along the runway or chute.

is influencedV by the nature and weight of the coin 3()v and this in a measure inuences the operation of the detector.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a device of this character improved means to eect a partial detection of the coins before they are delivered into the chute or runway to be further detected during their travel therealong, such means also operating to deposit the coins or checks into the chute or runway at substantially the same point and froma point in proximity thereto, so that the impetus of all of the coins or checks along the runway through the magnetic iield and at the point where they are delivered from the chute will be substantially the same, with the result that a more effective separation or detection will result.

A further object is to provide improved means for obtaining an effective separation or detection of the coins even though the mechanism should be tilted.

complishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the inventionconsists in the feaeral parts hereinafter more fully described and To the attainment of these ends and the ac-` (cl. 1in-101) claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention and in which Figure 1 is a view partly in front elevation, partly in section, and with parts omitted, of a device of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with other parts omitted.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1, with parts omitted.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4, Figure 3.

-Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the mechanism tilted.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates generally a runway or chute along which the coins are adapted to travel and to roll on their edge, the runway being provided with a bottom portion II which preferably terminates a considerable distance short of the end I2 of the side members of the runway.`

Opposed magnets I3 are arranged on opposite sides ofthe runway and are supported in any suitable manner such as by supporting members I4, the poles or free ends of the magnets projecting through openings I5 in the walls ofthe run- Way.

This runway is arranged in an inclined position and may be supported-in anydesired or suitable manner.

Adjacent the discharge end of the runway and arranged 'therebelow is a member provided Vwith an upright portion I6 and a laterally projecting portion I1, the latter being perferably downwardly inclined while the upper edge I8 of the portion I6 is reduced or beveled.

This member I1 is swingingly supported below the outlet end of the chute, in any suitable manner preferably by means of a member I9 secured thereto and pivotally supported at its upper end as at 20.

A s top 2I may be provided for limiting the swinging movement of this member in one direction.

'The coins when they are deposited into the runway will strike the bottom II and' will roll therealong past the magnets I3-and will *drop chute or runway with more or less speed or momentum.

This speed, however, up to the point where they enter the magnetic eld is controlled according to the point at which the coin is deposited into the chute. Therefore, it is desirable to deposit all of the coins in the chute at the same point with reference to the magnetic field so that the heavier coins will not acquire a greater speed than the lighter coins, which might affect their passage through the magnetic eld.

Therefore in order to deposit these coins and start them along the chute at substantially the Same point, any suitable mechanism may be provided for that purpose, and which mechanism itself is adapted to partially separate Vor detect the coins. A suitable and eicient mechanism for this purpose is shown and described in United States Patent #1,452,721 issued April 24, 1923, to Alfred D. Antoine.

Sumce it to say that such mechanism embodies a check or coin carrier 22 having a coin seat 23 therein and which is adapted to be rotated by means of an operating handle 24 secured to a shaft 25 to which the coin carrying disc 22 is connected. Arranged adjacent the path of movement of the coin in the check seat 23 is a mechanical detector mechanism 25 and arranged also adjacent the path of movement of the coin in the seat 23 is a magnet 26 so positioned that magnetic coins will be prevented from being discharged from the check seat into the runway. The mechanical detector means 25 will also detect and prevent other spurious coins from being delivered into the check chute or runway IU, all as described in the aforesaid patent.

When the check carrying discV 22 is in the position shown in Figure 2, the coin will be delivered or discharged therefrom and will drop into the coin chute or runway upon the bottom II at a point in proximity to the magnets I3. Therefore, itwill be seen that all of the coins or checks which pass through the initial separator will drop upon the bottom II of the runway at the same point with respect to the magnets. I3. Therefore,'the momentum of these respective coins will start from the same point with the result that the coins will all roll with substantially the same speed or momentum to the point where they enter the magnetic field.

The proper coins such as indicated at 21 in Figure 2 will drop off of approximately at the end 28 of the bottom II of the coin chute and will fall upon the edge I8 of the member I6 to be discharged into the pocket 30.

All of the improper coins or tokens as indicated at 29 will pass off of the bottom II of the the initial mechanism in which the check carry` ing disc 22 is arranged. The coins which pass the magnet 25 and the mechanical detector 25 will be discharged into the coin chute or runway I2 and will roll on their edge through the magnetic field to be separated by the latter.

In the event that the mechanism is tilted as shown in Figure 5, the members IE5- I1 which are swinginglysupported by the member I9 will assume the position shown in FigureV 5 which will prevent any of the coins from entering the dispensing mechanism of the apparatus.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts within the' scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A coin selecting mechanism for separating *coins and like metallic disc shaped elements, em-

bodying an inclined chute along which they travel, means adjacent the path of travel of the same in the chute to provide a magnetic eld to control their speed of travel, means whereby the coins may be deposited into' the chute in advance of said magnetic eld, a pendent member disposed adjacent the delivery end of the chute and mounted for free swinging movement, land an abutment surface on said member disposed below the bottom of the chute and in advance of the delivery end of the said bottom, and upon which abutment the coins fall after they have left the chute, said member and abutment operating to direct predetermined coins to travel to one side or the other of said abutment.

2. A coin selecting mechanism` for separating coins and like metallic disc shaped elements, embodying an inclined chute along which they travel, means adjacent the path of travel of the same in the chute to provide a magnetic field to control their speed of travel, means whereby they may be deposited into the chute in advance of said magnetic field, a pendent member disposed adjacent the delivery end of the chute and mounted for free swinging movement, an abutment surface on said member disposed below the bottom of the chute and in advance of the delivery end of the said bottom, and upon which abutment the coins fall after they have left the chute, said member and abutment operating to direct predetermined coins tor travel to one side or the other of said abutment, and a laterally projecting portion on said member below the said abutment surface and of a substantial area for receiving the coins from said abutment and guiding them in one direction.

3. A Vcoin selecting mechanism for separating coins and like metallic disc shaped elements, embodying an inclined chute along which they travel, means' adjacent the path of travel of the coins in the chute to provide a magnetic eld to control their speed of travel, means whereby they may be deposited into the chute in advance of said magnetic field, a pendent member disposed adjacent the delivery end of the chute and mounted for free swinging movementl an abutment surface on said member disposed below the bottom of the chute and in advance of the delivery end of the said bottom, and upon which abutment the coins fall after they have left the chute, said member and abutment operating to direct predetermined coins to travel to one side or the other of said abutment, and a stop for limiting the pivotaly movement of said pendent memberV in one direction, said member when in normal position operating to direct predetermined Ycoins to travel in different directions, but when in an abnormal position withrespect to the chute, operating to direct all of the coins to travel in the same direction.

4. A coin selecting mechanism for separating coins and the like metallic disc shaped elements, embodying an inclined chute along which they travel, means adjacent the path of travel of the same in the chute to provide a magnetic eld to control their speed of travel, means whereby they may be deposited into the chute in advance of said magnetic field, a pendent member disposed adjacent the delivery end of the chute and mounted for free swinging movement, and an abutment surface on said member disposed below the bottom of the chute and in advance of 10 the delivery end of the said bottom, and upon which abutment the coins fall after they have left the chute, said member and abutment operating to direct predetermined coins to travel t0 one side or the other of said abutment, the said abutment surface of the pendent member extending in a direction transverse to the said chute and being reduced to form a substantially narrow edge With which the coin contacts.

ALBERT E. GEBERT.

FLOYD C. BLACK. 

